Means for regulating steam-heating systems.



L. C. ORD.

MEANS FOR REGULATING STEAM HEATING SYSTEMS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. l1, 1911.

Patented 0111.211913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

Gwivtmmeb 5W/5 @Mvg/v 0R@ 62,11 ation/14211 l w /l COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPHco., WASHINGTON, u,

L. C. ORD. MEANS POR REGULATING STEAM HEATING SYSTEMS.

APPLICATION FILED 11017.11. 1911.

Patented Oct. 21, 1918.

'tlbllTED STATES c PATENT @FFQE Lnvvrs CRM/'EN om), or MONTREAL,obesi-3o, CANADA, AssroNoisro oeNi-iriran GOLD can HEATING a LIGHTINGcostretta, mariene, or NoN'raEAL, CANADA, A coa- PORATION F CANADA.

MEANS son' Ec-ULsrrNo striiaivi-itrlarive specificaties or Lettersrat-ent.

tercera.

Patented (let. 21, 1913.

Application filed November 11, 1911. Serial o. 659,847

To 27X @07m/m, i may concern.'

Be it known that I, LEWIS CniivnN Olin, of the city of Montreal,Province of lQuebec, Canada, have invented certain neilv and uset'ulImprovements in Means for Regulating Steam-Ivleating Systems; and dohereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription of the saine. y y

This invention relates more particularly to controlling devices adaptedto regulate the .heating capacity of a steam radiator by controlling theescape of the Water of condensation therefrom land it has for an objectto provide andimproved 'form' oi controller which will be simple inconstruction and 0I" comparatively small expense to manufacture.

Another object is to provide a construc-l tion for a controller WhichWill permit ot' the How of steam thei'etlirougliI being shut oit7 atdesired times and the `full fi'ovv of steam sent through the radiator.

F or further comprehension of the invention and of the objects andadvantages thereof reference Will be had to the following descriptionand appended claims, and to the accompanying drawings forming a part ofthis speciiication in which similar reference characters indicato thesame parts and wherein'- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a railway carheater having my invention applied thereto; Fig. 2 is a plan vien47thereof,";L Fig. 3 is a detail vertical sectional vieT of my improvedregulator; Figs. et; 5 and 6 are horizontal sectional vieivs takenrespectively on the lines 4e et, 5 and G 6 of Fig. 3 and looking in thedirections indicated by the arrows, Fig". 5 being on a slightly largerscale than Figs. e' and G; and Fig. 7 is a detail tace view of theindicator plate.

in the drawings my invention is illustra'ted applied to the heating of aWater system, such for instance as is suitable for car heating, a steamradiator being indicated at A; ivhile a Water jacket for containing tlieWater to be'phea'ted is s hoivn at B and the iioiv and return pipes ofthe hot Water system at C and D respectively, these parts being of anyapproved constructioii, it being understood of course, thatthe ap'-plication of my inventionv is .not limited to a radiator employed forthe particulail p'urpose here indicated;

My improved regulator comprises a stand pipe 2 screwed at its lower endinto a casting 3 forming a valve casing the loi'ver end of which isbored and tapped to receive a plug 4 having a central passage 5 leadingtherethrough from top to bottom, the upper end of the passage beingoutiwirdly7 lia-red as at 6 to form a valve seat, the lower end o1" thepassage being enlarged and tapped to receive the upper end of the usualivaste pipe 8 Which is screwed therein, the Waste pipe leading to athermostatic trap Y of usual censtrtictio'n and to which detailreference docs not .iieed to be made. The sido ivall of the valve casinghas a tapped opening or port 9' into ivhi'ch is scr'eived the end of thepipe 10 leading from the lower end of the radiator, the upper end of thestand pipe being scr'eived into a head 11 which has in its side Wall atapped opening or port 12 into which is screwed the end of a branchsteam pipe 18 leading from the main steam supply pipe 14 Which connectsto the upper end of the radiator in the usual manner, the pipe 14 beinghere shown as provided with a valve 13 located at a point between thebranch pipe 13 and tlle radiator.

Located centrally Within the stand pipe and extending from top' tobottom thereof is a tube composed of a number of sections, there beingthree of thesesections 15, 1G' and 17 respectively here shown, this tubecontrolling the communication between the port 9 and the outlet passage5 to the Waste pipe by adjustment of the tube as a Whole and oi tliesections relatively to one another. As here shown these sections havescrewed on the lower endsythereot sleevesl 20, 21 and 22 respectively,ivhose bottom' faces are beveled to form valves and 22, the valve 22 onthe loiver section being adapted to seat at times uponl the beforeinentioned seat 6, ivh'ile the valves and vil are adapted to' seat attimes ofi seats' 16 and 17 formed on' the adjacent upper ends of thesections 1G and 17. AThese sections connected to one another in aiiianner to permit both of limited relative movement thereof and of theivhole tube being raised or lowered in the stand pipe to ,openi orclose` the valves 20", 21 and 22 and so vary the level at which theWater of condensation may escape from' the stand pipe to' the outletpassage 5 as will be presently pointed out. As here shown these sectionsare connected one to another by coupling rings 2li and 25 screwed uponthe lower ends of the sleeves 2O and 21 and having inturned annularflanges 24 and 25 engaging under circumferential flanges on the tops ofthe sections 16 and 17 and loosely encircling such sections, thesecoupling rings being of sufficient length to allow of movement of thevalves 20 and 21 the coupling rings being formed with openings or parts2G and Q7 respectively coni- 1nunicating with 'he spaces between suchvalves and seats when the valves are open while the section 15 isprovided with openings or port-s 2S near its upper end. The sectionaltube is centered within the stand pipe by means of circumferentialflanges 29 cast on the sleeves 20, 21 and 22 and provided with verticalports 30 to permit of the passage of the water of condensation or steam.

Screwed upon the upper end of the section 15 is a cap 32 whose top isformed to present a valve 33 adapted to register with a downwardlyfacing seat 34 on a ring 35 screwed into the top of the stand pipe, thisvalve controlling admission of the steam from the branch pipe 123 to thestand pipe as will be readily seen by referring to Fig. 3.

Formed integrally with the cap 32 and extending upwardly therefrom is astein 37 which projects through a plug 38 screwed into the top of thehead 11, there being a screw thread connection 39 between the stem andplug so as to cause rotation of the stem to move it vertically, apacking gland l() preventing escape of the steam. rllhe pitch of thethread 39 is preferably such as to cause the stein to move vertically ateach complete revolution, a distance equal to the amount of lost motionbetween each of the sections. Mounted upon the upper end of the stem isa handle 111 having a downturned indicating finger or pointer 4t2adapted to register with different ones (according to the heightof waterto be maintained) of a series of indentations 423, or other suitablemarks, on a segmental plate ll secured as by screws l5 to the head 11.These indentatio-ns may be designated Full, -1- and -land show,according to which one the pointer registers with, whether thecontrolling tube is adjusted t-o cause the water of condensation toescape directly to the waste pipe under valve Q2, or through respectiveones of the openings 26, 27, 2S.

Operation: if only a small portion of the heating surface of theradiator is to be utilized the handle'lll is turned until the indicatorpoints to l; in which posit-ion the valves 20', 21 and 22 will all beseated upon the respective seats, closing all communication between thestand pipe and outlet passage except through the openings iu the topsection and consequently causing the cator points to -1- in whichposition the valve 20 will be lifted from its seat by reason of theloose connection between the sections of the tube and the water ofcondensation will escape through the openings 26, the valves 21 and 22being still held closed by the weight of the sections 1G and 17, while afurther movement of the handle will cause the section 1G to be liftedand the valve Q1 to be raised and the water of condensation to escapethrough the openings 27.' Any slight leakage that may taire placethrough the valves due to the fact of the valves being held in placeonly by the weight of the tube sections will not be sufficient to affectthe proper working of the device because of the continuous supply of thewater of condensation from the radiator, while it will be obvious thatwith the water of condensation at the highest level the handle can beturned to force the sections firmly down upon one another and tightlyclose the valves. To cause the full heating surface of the radiator tobe utilized the handle is turned farther until the indicator points toFull, in which position the valve 22 is lifted from its seat, (the wholetube being suspended in the standpipe) and the water of condensationflows directly to the waste pipe, the valve 38 preferably seating on itsseat and shutting off the steam from the controller when the fullheating surface of the radiator is being utilized.

r1`he construction permitting the steam being shuto fromthe regulatorwhen the full heating surface of the radiator is to be utilized has beenfound to be very desirable becauseof the liability to a more rapidcondensation of the steam in the radiator than in the controllerresulting in a higher pressure in the controller than in the radiatorwith a consequent tendency of the back pressure from the controllerthrough the pipe 10 to prevent the escape of the water of condensationand cause it to back up in the radiator. p

To prevent any chance of the radiator freezing in very cold weather thehandle Y of valve 13 may be removed (with the valve open) thus renderingit impossible to completely shut off the radiator as the portion thereofabove the openings 28 will always be open to the steam supply. 1n milderweather the valve handle can be replacedk and the steam supply to theradiator shut ott, while at the same time a passage to the steam trapthrough the regulator will be lett open thus protecting the thermostatictrap from freezing, to which it might be liable because of its exposedposition.

1 claim:

l. 1n combination, a steam radiator, a steam supply d evice, a. standpipe connected to the radiator to have the water ot condensation escapetherethrough, means connecting the stand pipe to the steam supplydevice, means whereby such stand pipe may be cut otll from such steamsupply device, means operable automatically by said last named means topermit the water ott condensation to escape at a certain predeterminedlevel when said stand pipe is cut oli from the steam supply device, andmeans connecting the adiator to the steam supply independently et thestand pipe. j

2. n steam radiator regulator comprising a stand pipe having a dripport, and an inlet port adapted to receive water of condensation trom aradiator, a tube within the stand pipe adapted to control the escape olwater of condensation therefrom, such tube comprising a series ofvertically and rela-` tively adjustable members arranged to providepassages between the ends thereol tor the flow of water from the standpipe at ditt'erent levels, and means whereby such members .may beadjusted relatively to each other to govern the passage there-between.

3. A steam radiator regulator comprising` a stand pipe having a dripport, and an in let port adapted to receive water of condensation trom aradiator, a tube within the stand pipe adapted to control the escape otwater of condensation therefrom, such tube comprising a series ofvertically and relativelyv adjustable members arranged to providepassages between the ends thereof for the tlow oit' water from the standpipe at different levels, and means whereby such members may be adjustedrelatively to each other to govern the passage therebetween the bottomone oit such tubes carrying a valve adapted to control the passage ofthe water of condensation from the stand pipe exterior to the said tube.

4l. A steam radiator regulator comprising a stand pipe having a dripport and an inlet port adapted to receive water of condensation from aradiator, means connecting the stand pipe to the steam supply, meanswithin the stand pipe for regulating the level at which the water ofcondensation escapes, and means actuated by a common device with thelast mentioned means for cutting off the steam supply to the stand pipewhen the water of condensation is escaping at a certain predeterminedlevel.

5. 'In a steam radiator regulator, a tube open at its lower end and madeup of a series oit relatively adjustable sections having their adjacentends formed to present valves and valve seats respectively, meanswhereby the said sections may be adjusted relatively to one another tomove the valves toward or away from the said seats, and means to supportthe tube.

6. The combination with a steam radiator, a stand pipe incon'nnunication with the rafiliator to receive water or' condensationtherefrom' and having a drip port, a tube within the stand pipe tocontrol the escape et water from the radiator through the stand pipe andmovable to have its lower end placed in direct communication with thedrip port and made up of a series oit relatively movable sectionsarranged to provide passages therebetween for the flow of water from thestand pipe at dii'erent levels, means whereby such sections may beadjusted toward and away from one another and whereby the whole tube maybe adjusted within the standpipe to govern the passage of the water oitcondensation from the inlet to the drip port of the stand pipe.

7. A steam radiator regulator comprising a stand pipe having a drip portand an inlet port adapted to receive water of condensation from aradiator, such stand pipe also having at its upper end an inlet port incoimnunication with a source of steam supply, a tube within the standpipe movable to have its lower end placed in direct communication withthe drip port and having above its lower end an opening forming a.passage between the tube and the stand pipe, such tube being providedwith valves at its lower and upper ends, and means for adjusting suchtube fertically to cause the said valves to alternately open and closethe said. drip port and the port in communication with the steam supplyrespectively as the tube is moved in opposite directions.

8. 1n a steam radiator regulator, a tube open at its lower end and madeup of a se ries of relatively adjustable sections having their adjacentends formed to present valves and valve seats respectively, meanswhereby the said sections may be adjusted relatively to one another tocause the valves to be litted t'rom or closed upon the said seats insuccession, and means to support the tnbe.

9. A steam radiator regulator comprising a stand pipe adapted to havethe water of condensation escape therethrough, such stand pipe having` abottom member provided with an outlet opening, a tube within the standpipe comprising a series of sections adjustable toward and away from oneanother to provide passages therebetween for the flow of water from lthestand pipe the upper end whereof is formed with an inlet opening, meanswhereby such tube may he seated upon such bottom member with its lowerend registering with the said outlet opening and the passages betweenthe seotions closed or the sections successively lifted from one anotherand the whole tube lifted from such bottom member.

l()q ln a steam radiator regulator, a stand pipe having an outlet, atube in the stand pipehaving its interior in comi'nuiiication with said.outlet and made up of a series of relatively movable sections havingadjacent lower and upper ends formed to present respectively valves andvalve seats, and means connecting the sections together to permit oflimited relative movement thereof and bodily movement of the tube inunison, such means permitting of the passage oi' the water ofcondensation between the said adjacent ends.

1].. A steam radiator regulator comprising in combination, a stand pipeadapted to have the water of condensation escape therethrough, suchstand pipe having a bottom member' formed to present a dischargeopening, a tube extending within the stand eipe leading from top tobottom thereof, the lower end 01"' such tube presenting a valve adaptedto control the said opening the adjacent lower and upper ends oli' whichare formed to present Vrespectively valves and seats, coupling devicesconnecting the sections together to permit of limited movement of thevalves with respect to the seats, such coupling devices presentingopenings adapted to permit of flow of the Vwater of condensation fromthe stand pipe to the tube when the valves are raised, a stem leadingupwardly from the said tube, means for adjusting such stem vertically tocause different ones of the before mentioned valves to be lifted fromtheir seats to vary the level at whichrthe water of condensation mayescape from the stand pipe to the said outlet opening.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, inthe presenceot two subscribing witnesses. Y

- LEWIS @RAVEN GRD. litnesses:

ALEX CURRIE, FRED. J. Sums.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, byaddressng'the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, DKG. l

